2020–21 Brighton & Hove Albion W.F.C. season

Brighton & Hove Albion
2020–21 season
Chairman	Tony Bloom
Manager	Hope Powell
Stadium	Broadfield Stadium, Crawley
WSL	9th
League Cup	Group stage
Top goalscorer	League: Inessa Kaagman (3); All: Inessa Kaagman (3)
	← 2019–20

The 2020–21 Brighton & Hove Albion W.F.C. season is the club's 30th season in existence and their third in the FA Women's Super League, the highest level of the football pyramid. Along with competing in the WSL, the club will also contest two domestic cup competitions: the FA Cup and the League Cup.

Summary

On 6 September, Brighton played Birmingham in their opening match of the season in what was their first league match in 6 months. The Seagulls won 2–0 at home with goals from Megan Connolly and Inessa Kaagman.^[1] On 27 September, Brighton played Birmingham again, this time coming in the quarter final of the 2019–20 FA Cup in which they lost on penalties. The cup overlapped the new season due to the postponements as a result of Covid 19.^[2] Brighton's first defeat of the campaign came on the 4 October in their third league game, a 3–0 away loss against Manchester United.^[3] In the 2–2 away draw at Everton on 18 October, Kayleigh Green was seen to be shown two yellow cards by referee Lucy Oliver but was not sent off, baffling Toffees manager Willie Kirk.^[4]^[5]

Squad

As of 16 January 2021.^[6]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
1	GK	ENG	Megan Walsh
2	DF	ENG	Bethan Roe
3	DF	ENG	Felicity Gibbons
4	DF	ENG	Danielle Bowman (captain)
5	DF	NED	Danique Kerkdijk
6	DF	ENG	Maya Le Tissier
7	FW	ENG	Aileen Whelan
8	MF	IRL	Megan Connolly
9	FW	KOR	Lee Geum-min (on loan from Manchester City)
10	MF	NED	Inessa Kaagman
11	MF	FIN	Nora Heroum


No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
13	DF	NZL	Rebekah Stott
15	FW	WAL	Kayleigh Green
16	FW	ENG	Ellie Brazil
19	MF	ENG	Emily Simpkins
20	DF	ENG	Victoria Williams
21	MF	ENG	Jodie Brett
22	MF	ENG	Katie Robinson
23	FW	IRL	Rianna Jarrett
25	GK	NOR	Cecilie Fiskerstrand
29	FW	ENG	Faith Nokuthula
32	MF	ENG	Libby Bance

Pre-season

7 August 2020 Friendly	Brighton & Hove Albion	2–2	Leicester City	Burton upon Trent
	Kaagman Gibbons	Report		Stadium: St George's Park Attendance: Behind-closed-doors

13 August 2020 Friendly	Arsenal	–	Brighton & Hove Albion	London Colney
		Report		Stadium: Arsenal Training Centre Attendance: Behind-closed-doors
Note: No official scoreline released

16 August 2020 Friendly	Liverpool	–	Brighton & Hove Albion	Birkenhead
				Stadium: Prenton Park Attendance: Behind-closed-doors
Note: No official scoreline released

FA Women's Super League

Results summary


Overall								Home						Away
Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD
13	2	3	8	8	29	−21	9	1	0	5	4	18	−14	1	3	3	4	11	−7

Last updated: 30 January 2021.
Source: FA WSL

Results by matchday

Round	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22
Ground	H	A	A	H	A	H	A	A	H	H	A	H	A	A	H	H	A	H	H	A	A	H
Result	W	D	L	L	D	L	W	L	L	L	D	L	L
Position	3	5	7	7	8	8	8	8	9	9	9	9	9

Source: ^{[citation needed]}
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Results

6 September 2020 1	Brighton & Hove Albion	2–0	Birmingham City	Crawley
14:00	Connolly 58' Kaagman 60'	Report	Holloway 66' Scott 71' Napier 81' Mayling 90+1'	Stadium: Broadfield Stadium Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Rob Whitton

13 September 2020 2	Manchester City	0–0	Brighton & Hove Albion	Manchester
14:00		Report	Bowman 38'	Stadium: Academy Stadium Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Helen Conley

4 October 2020 3	Manchester United	3–0	Brighton & Hove Albion	Leigh
12:00	Toone 9' (pen.) Russo 67' Press 78' Ross 90+2'	Report	Le Tissier 9' Green 45+5' Kerkdijk 90+1'	Stadium: Leigh Sports Village Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Elliot Swallow

11 October 2020 4	Brighton & Hove Albion	0–5	Arsenal	Crawley
12:30		Report	Miedema 10', 90+3' van de Donk 36' Beattie 48' Wubben-Moy 82'	Stadium: Broadfield Stadium Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Kirsty Dowle

18 October 2020 5	Everton	2–2	Brighton & Hove Albion	Liverpool
13:00	Christiansen 28' Gauvin 71'	Report	Sevecke 9' (o.g.) Le Tissier 45+1' Green 48' Whelan 78'	Stadium: Walton Hall Park Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Lucy Oliver

8 November 2020 6	Brighton & Hove Albion	0–2	Aston Villa	Crawley
14:00	Simpkins 68' Kerkdijk 82' Bowman 84' Connolly 88'	Report	Asante 59' Hutton 71' Petzelberger 90+2'	Stadium: Broadfield Stadium Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Stacey Pearson

15 November 2020 7	West Ham United	0–1	Brighton & Hove Albion	Dagenham
12:30		Report	Green 44' Jarrett 69'	Stadium: Victoria Road Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Abigail Byrne

6 December 2020 8	Tottenham Hotspur	3–1	Brighton & Hove Albion	Canons Park
14:00	Harrop 11' Kennedy 32' Addison 63' Morgan 84' (pen.) Percival 90+5'	Report	Williams 8' Kaagman 33' (pen.)	Stadium: The Hive

13 December 2020 9	Brighton & Hove Albion	0–1	Chelsea	Crawley
14:00		Report	Kerr 21'	Stadium: Broadfield Stadium Attendance: 457 Referee: Lisa Benn

20 December 2020 10	Brighton & Hove Albion	1–3	Reading	Crawley
14:00	Kaagman 21' (pen.) Bowman 55'	Report	Fishlock 17', 44' Leine 23' Bartrip 61' Carter 88' Rowe 90+1'	Stadium: Broadfield Stadium Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Abigail Byrne

10 January 2021	Bristol City	P–P	Brighton & Hove Albion	Bath
14:00				Stadium: Twerton Park
Note: Postponed due to positive COVID-19 cases in Brighton squad^[7]

17 January 2021 11	Birmingham City	0–0	Brighton & Hove Albion	Solihull
14:00		Report	Kerkdijk 64'	Stadium: Damson Park Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Helen Conley

24 January 2021 12	Brighton & Hove Albion	1–7	Manchester City	Lancing
14:00	Jarrett 69'	Report	Weir 12', 16' Houghton 41', 61' White 58' Kelly 73' Beckie 77'	Stadium: AMEX Elite Football Performance Centre Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Lisa Benn

30 January 2021 13	Bristol City	3–0	Brighton & Hove Albion	Bath
14:00	Daniëls 3' Salmon 34', 59' (pen.)	Report	Green 68' Le Tissier 90+2'	Stadium: Twerton Park Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Lucy Oliver
Note: Rescheduled from 10 January 2021 following positive COVID-19 cases in Brighton squad.

7 February 2021 14	Chelsea	v	Brighton & Hove Albion	Kingston upon Thames
14:00				Stadium: Kingsmeadow

10 February 2021 15	Brighton & Hove Albion	v	West Ham United	Crawley
19:00				Stadium: Broadfield Stadium

7 March 021 16	Brighton & Hove Albion	v	Tottenham Hotspur	Crawley
14:00				Stadium: Broadfield Stadium

17 March 2021 17	Aston Villa	v	Brighton & Hove Albion	Walsall
19:00				Stadium: Bescot Stadium

28 March 2021 18	Brighton & Hove Albion	v	Everton	Crawley
14:00				Stadium: Broadfield Stadium

4 April 2021 19	Brighton & Hove Albion	v	Manchester United	Crawley
14:00				Stadium: Broadfield Stadium

25 April 2021 20	Arsenal	v	Brighton & Hove Albion	Borehamwood
14:00				Stadium: Meadow Park

2 May 2021 21	Reading	v	Brighton & Hove Albion	Reading
14:00				Stadium: Madejski Stadium

9 May 2021 22	Brighton & Hove Albion	v	Bristol City	Crawley
14:00				Stadium: Broadfield Stadium

League table

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
4	Manchester United	22	15	2	5	44	20	+24	47
5	Everton	22	9	5	8	39	30	+9	32
6	Brighton & Hove Albion	22	8	3	11	21	41	−20	27
7	Reading	22	5	9	8	25	41	−16	24
8	Tottenham Hotspur	22	5	5	12	18	41	−23	20

Source: FA WSL
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored.

Women's FA Cup

As a member of the top two tiers, Brighton will enter the FA Cup in the fourth round proper. Originally scheduled to take place on 31 January 2021, it was delayed due to COVID-19 restrictions.^[8]^[9]

TBD Fourth round

v

FA Women's League Cup

7 October 2020 Group stage	Brighton & Hove Albion	2–2 (2–4 p)	West Ham United	Crawley
19:30	Le Tissier 12' Connolly 42' Kerkdijk 48' Jarrett 61'	Report	Daly 31' Flaherty 82'	Stadium: Broadfield Stadium Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Steven Hughes
	Penalties
	Jarrett Heroum Williams Bowman		van Egmond Grant Daly Pacheco Lehmann

4 November 2020 Group stage	Charlton Athletic	C–C	Brighton & Hove Albion	Crayford
19:45				Stadium: The Oakwood
Note: Initially postponed following positive COVID-19 test on Brighton staff^[10] Fixture was not fulfilled.

18 November 2020 Group stage	Brighton & Hove Albion	0–2	Reading	Crawley
19:30	Simpkins 58'	Report	Harding 28' Fishlock 41' Eikeland 73'	Stadium: Broadfield Stadium Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Ryan Atkin

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	WPEN	LPEN	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification	WHU	REA	BHA	CHA
1	West Ham United	3	2	1	0	0	9	2	+7	8	Advanced to knock-out stage	—	3–0	—	—
2	Reading	3	2	0	0	1	6	3	+3	6	Possible knock-out stage based on ranking	—	—	—	4–0
3	Brighton & Hove Albion	2	0	0	1	1	2	4	−2	1		2–2	0–2	—	—
4	Charlton Athletic	2	0	0	0	2	0	8	−8	0		0–4	—	C–C^[α]	—

Source: thefa.com
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Number of wins; 5) Head-to-head record

^ Match originally postponed following positive COVID-19 test by Brighton staff.^[11] An independent tribunal determined the fixture would not be rescheduled as it would have no effect on qualifying.^[12]

Transfers

Transfers in

Date	Position	Name	From	Ref.
6 July 2020	GK	Katie Startup	Charlton Athletic	^[13]
13 July 2020	MF	Katie Robinson	Bristol City	^[14]
15 July 2020	MF	Nora Heroum	A.C. Milan	^[15]
17 July 2020	MF	Inessa Kaagman	Everton	^[16]
2 September 2020	DF	Rebekah Stott	Melbourne City	^[17]

Loans in

Date	Position	Nationality	Name	From	Until	Ref.
24 July 2020	FW		Lee Geum-min	Manchester City	End of season	^[18]
9 September 2020	FW		Denise O'Sullivan	North Carolina Courage	31 December 2020	^[19]

Transfers out

Date	Position	Name	To	Ref.
3 June 2020	MF	Léa Le Garrec	FC Fleury 91	^[20]^[21]
	MF	Kate Natkiel	Crystal Palace	^[20]^[22]
	MF	Amanda Nildén	Eskilstuna United	^[20]^[23]
	GK	Sophie Harris	Watford	^[20]^[24]
	DF	Fern Whelan	Retired	^[20]^[25]
	FW	Ini Umotong	Växjö DFF	^[20]^[26]
1 July 2020	DF	Matilde Lundorf	Juventus	^[27]^[28]

Loans out

Date	Position	Name	To	Until	Ref.
6 August 2020	GK	Laura Hartley	Lewes	End of season	^[29]
7 August 2020	DF	Ellie Hack	Lewes	End of season	^[30]
5 September 2020	DF	Laura Rafferty	Bristol City	End of season	^[31]
6 September 2020	GK	Katie Startup	Charlton Athletic		^[32]
13 September 2020	DF	Bethan Roe	Charlton Athletic	16 January 2021	^[33]
8 January 2021	MF	Kirsty Barton	Crystal Palace	End of season	^[34]

Squad statistics

Appearances

As of 30 January 2021

Starting appearances are listed first, followed by substitute appearances after the + symbol where applicable.

No.	Pos	Nat	Player	Total		FA WSL		FA Cup		League Cup
No.	Pos	Nat	Player	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Goalkeepers
1	GK	ENG	Megan Walsh	7	0	7	0	0	0	0	0
25	GK	NOR	Cecilie Fiskerstrand	8	0	6	0	0	0	2	0
Defenders
2	DF	ENG	Bethan Roe	2	0	2	0	0	0	0	0
3	DF	ENG	Felicity Gibbons	11	0	9	0	0	0	2	0
4	DF	ENG	Danielle Bowman	15	0	12+1	0	0	0	2	0
5	DF	NED	Danique Kerkdijk	14	0	9+3	0	0	0	2	0
6	DF	ENG	Maya Le Tissier	15	0	13	0	0	0	2	0
13	DF	NZL	Rebekah Stott	7	0	5+2	0	0	0	0	0
20	DF	ENG	Victoria Williams	9	0	7+1	0	0	0	1	0
Midfielders
8	MF	IRL	Megan Connolly	10	2	8+1	1	0	0	1	1
10	MF	NED	Inessa Kaagman	15	3	13	3	0	0	0+2	0
11	MF	FIN	Nora Heroum	9	0	2+5	0	0	0	2	0
19	MF	ENG	Emily Simpkins	9	0	1+7	0	0	0	1	0
21	MF	ENG	Jodie Brett	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
22	MF	ENG	Katie Robinson	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0
32	MF	ENG	Libby Bance	3	0	0+2	0	0	0	0+1	0
Forwards
7	FW	ENG	Aileen Whelan	15	1	13	1	0	0	1+1	0
9	FW	KOR	Lee Geum-min	11	0	5+4	0	0	0	2	0
15	FW	WAL	Kayleigh Green	12	0	9+1	0	0	0	1+1	0
16	FW	ENG	Ellie Brazil	6	0	5+1	0	0	0	0	0
23	FW	IRL	Rianna Jarrett	13	3	7+4	2	0	0	0+2	1
29	FW	ENG	Faith Nokuthula	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Players away from the club on loan:
18	MF	ENG	Kirsty Barton	5	0	1+2	0	0	0	2	0
Players who appeared for the club but left during the season:
12	FW	IRL	Denise O'Sullivan	11	0	8+1	0	0	0	1+1	0

References

^ "Women's Super League: Brighton & Hove Albion 2–0 Birmingham City – BBC Sport". BBC Sport. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
^ "Women's FA Cup: Brighton & Hove Albion 2–2 Birmingham City (2–4) – BBC Sport". BBC Sport. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
^ "Manchester United 3–0 Brighton & Hove Albion: Alessia Russo on target in routine victory – BBC Sport". BBC Sport. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
^ "Women's Super League: Everton 2–2 Brighton & Hove Albion – Willie Kirk baffled by card 'mix–up' – BBC Sport". BBC Sport. 18 October 2020. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
^ "WSL Trending: Two yellow cards = no red? Watch bizarre card mix–up in WSL – BBC Sport". BBC Sport. 18 October 2020. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
^ "Brighton & Hove Albion - Women's Team". Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
^ "Bristol City-Brighton off because of Covid". BBC Sport.
^ "The Women's FA Cup Season 2020–21 List of Exemptions" (PDF). thefa.com. The Football Association. 10 August 2020.
^ "Women's FA Cup to remain suspended during coronavirus lockdown". Sky Sports.
^ "Continental Cup tie postponed". www.brightonandhovealbion.com.
^ "Continental Cup tie postponed". www.brightonandhovealbion.com.
^ "FA Women's League Cup quarter-final draw date". womenscompetitions.thefa.com.
^ "Startup signs up for Albion". www.brightonandhovealbion.com.
^ "Powell adds second new signing". www.brightonandhovealbion.com.
^ "Heroum joins from AC Milan". www.brightonandhovealbion.com.
^ "Albion go Dutch with latest signing". www.brightonandhovealbion.com.
^ "Albion sign New Zealand international". www.brightonandhovealbion.com.
^ "Albion sign World Cup star". www.brightonandhovealbion.com.
^ Birkedal, Morgan (9 September 2020). "Denise O'Sullivan to Finish 2020 on Loan with Brighton & Hove Albion". North Carolina Courage.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f "Hope Powell pays tribute as Le Garrec returns to France". www.brightonandhovealbion.com.
^ "Léa Le Garrec s'engage !". FC Fleury 91 (in French).
^ "Palace Women secure Natkiel from Brighton & Hove Albion". www.cpfc.co.uk.
^ Alhag, Stefan (11 July 2020). "Eskilstuna United värvar Amanda Nildén". eskilstunaunited (in Swedish).
^ "Official: Harris Signs For Golden Girls". www.watfordfc.com.
^ "Whelan retires with immediate effect". www.brightonandhovealbion.com.
^ "Umotong till Växjö DFF". OBOS Damallsvenskan (in Swedish).
^ "Lundorf to leave Albion". www.brightonandhovealbion.com.
^ "Matilde Lundorf è bianconera!". Juventus.com (in Italian).
^ "Brighton keeper joins the Rooks". www.lewesfc.com.
^ "England youth international added to Rooks' defensive line-up". www.lewesfc.com.
^ "Rafferty is a Robin". Bristol City.
^ "Startup returns to Charlton on loan". Chalrton Athletic twitter.
^ "Bethan Roe signs from Brighton". cafcwomen.co.uk.
^ "Kirsty Barton joins Palace Women from Brighton & Hove Albion". www.cpfc.co.uk.

[CHABHA-13] Match originally postponed following positive COVID-19 test by Brighton staff.^[11] An independent tribunal determined the fixture would not be rescheduled as it would have no effect on qualifying.^[12]

[1] "Women's Super League: Brighton & Hove Albion 2–0 Birmingham City – BBC Sport". BBC Sport. Retrieved 5 October 2020.

[2] "Women's FA Cup: Brighton & Hove Albion 2–2 Birmingham City (2–4) – BBC Sport". BBC Sport. Retrieved 5 October 2020.

[3] "Manchester United 3–0 Brighton & Hove Albion: Alessia Russo on target in routine victory – BBC Sport". BBC Sport. Retrieved 5 October 2020.

[4] "Women's Super League: Everton 2–2 Brighton & Hove Albion – Willie Kirk baffled by card 'mix–up' – BBC Sport". BBC Sport. 18 October 2020. Retrieved 19 October 2020.

[5] "WSL Trending: Two yellow cards = no red? Watch bizarre card mix–up in WSL – BBC Sport". BBC Sport. 18 October 2020. Retrieved 19 October 2020.

[6] "Brighton & Hove Albion - Women's Team". Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. Retrieved 15 November 2018.

[7] "Bristol City-Brighton off because of Covid". BBC Sport.

[8] "The Women's FA Cup Season 2020–21 List of Exemptions" (PDF). thefa.com. The Football Association. 10 August 2020.

[9] "Women's FA Cup to remain suspended during coronavirus lockdown". Sky Sports.

[10] "Continental Cup tie postponed". www.brightonandhovealbion.com.

[11] "Continental Cup tie postponed". www.brightonandhovealbion.com.

[thefa_171220-12] "FA Women's League Cup quarter-final draw date". womenscompetitions.thefa.com.

[14] "Startup signs up for Albion". www.brightonandhovealbion.com.

[15] "Powell adds second new signing". www.brightonandhovealbion.com.

[16] "Heroum joins from AC Milan". www.brightonandhovealbion.com.

[17] "Albion go Dutch with latest signing". www.brightonandhovealbion.com.

[18] "Albion sign New Zealand international". www.brightonandhovealbion.com.

[19] "Albion sign World Cup star". www.brightonandhovealbion.com.

[20] Birkedal, Morgan (9 September 2020). "Denise O'Sullivan to Finish 2020 on Loan with Brighton & Hove Albion". North Carolina Courage.

[departures-21] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f "Hope Powell pays tribute as Le Garrec returns to France". www.brightonandhovealbion.com.

[22] "Léa Le Garrec s'engage !". FC Fleury 91 (in French).

[23] "Palace Women secure Natkiel from Brighton & Hove Albion". www.cpfc.co.uk.

[24] Alhag, Stefan (11 July 2020). "Eskilstuna United värvar Amanda Nildén". eskilstunaunited (in Swedish).

[25] "Official: Harris Signs For Golden Girls". www.watfordfc.com.

[26] "Whelan retires with immediate effect". www.brightonandhovealbion.com.

[27] "Umotong till Växjö DFF". OBOS Damallsvenskan (in Swedish).

[28] "Lundorf to leave Albion". www.brightonandhovealbion.com.

[29] "Matilde Lundorf è bianconera!". Juventus.com (in Italian).

[30] "Brighton keeper joins the Rooks". www.lewesfc.com.

[31] "England youth international added to Rooks' defensive line-up". www.lewesfc.com.

[32] "Rafferty is a Robin". Bristol City.

[33] "Startup returns to Charlton on loan". Chalrton Athletic twitter.

[34] "Bethan Roe signs from Brighton". cafcwomen.co.uk.

[35] "Kirsty Barton joins Palace Women from Brighton & Hove Albion". www.cpfc.co.uk.

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